California Governor Blocks Landmark AI Safety Bill

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark artificial intelligence (AI) safety bill, which had faced strong opposition from major technology companies, João da Silva reported for BBC News.

Newsom explained that the bill could stifle innovation and drive AI developers out of the state. I Photo: Gavin Newsom X

The proposed legislation would have introduced some of the first regulations on AI in the US.

Newsom explained that the bill could stifle innovation and drive AI developers out of the state. Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, argued that the veto allows companies to continue developing "extremely powerful technology" without government oversight.

The bill would have required the most advanced AI models to undergo safety testing and include a "kill switch" — a mechanism allowing organizations to isolate and deactivate an AI system if it posed a threat.

It would also have mandated official oversight for the development of "Frontier Models," the most powerful AI systems.